Combination trailer hitch and bumper guard



H. C- TYSON COMBINATION TRAILER HITCH AND BUMPER GUARD Flled Feb 19,1947 Nov. 8, 1949 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 COMBINATION TRAILER HITCH ANDBUMPER GUARD Homer 0. Tyson, Bethany, Ohio Application February 19,1947, Serial No. 729,442

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a combination trailer hitch and bumper guard.

An object of this invention is to provide a device that can be used as atrailer hitch and when not so used will constitute a bumper guard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is simple inconstruction and operation, durable and efiicient in use, and can beinexpensively manufactured for the purpose desired.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts morefully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of an embodimentof the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view thereof;

Figure 3 is a front view of the removable bumper guard and Figure 4 is amodified form of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the invention comprises arectangular shaped body or block I having a tapered recess II in therear thereof to conform somewhat to the shape of the bumper |2 on whichit is mounted.

Such mounting is accomplished by angular brackets l3 secured to the topand bottom of the block I adjacent each outer end thereof. Screws l4have hooked ends l5 which are inserted in openings l6 in the bracketsl3, and mounted in hooked shaped brackets I! by means of nuts l8, will,when the nuts are tightened firmly mount the block ID on the bumper l2.Winged screws IS in the brackets l1 further aid in retaining thebrackets on the bumpers.

The block I0 is provided with vertical bores 20 adjacent each outer endthereof in alinement with each other, and with the brackets l3, andthese bores are adapted to receive the dowels 2| of the trailer hitch 22when it is in use, or the dowels 23 of the bumper guard 24 which is usedwhen the trailer hitch is removed.

The dowels 2| and 23 are provided with notches 25 in the rear surfacethereof to be engaged by the spring press latch 26 which is mounted inthe block I0, and an adjustable screw 21 tensions the spring 28 of thelatch 26.

The latch 26 is provided in its lower surface with a notch 29 which isengaged by the end 30 of the lever 3|, which is pivotedly mounted in therecess 32 in the block ID of a pin 33. Pulling the lever 3| forwardretracts the latch 26 so that the hitch 22 or guard 24 can be removedand replaced as desired.

In Figure 4 the block 34 is mounted within the bumper 35 and contouredat the top and bottom thereof to conform somewhat to the shape of thebumper 35.

The block 34 is also provided with vertical bores 36 to receive thedowel 31 of the trailer hitch 38 which is mounted on a block 39 whichrests on the bumper 35, the dowel 31 passing through the bumper asshown. The dowel 31 is notched at it to receive the spring pressed latch4|, and the lever 42 pivoted at 43 in the recess 44 in the block 34enters the notch 45 in the latch 4|, and a rod or cord 46 connected tothe lever 42 can be pulled to release the latch as desired.

In both forms, one can be removably attached to a bumper while the othercan be permanently fixed thereto.

In either form, the hitch can be mounted on the block for towing atrailer or the hitch can be removed, and the bumper guard mounted toprevent the appearance of a conventional bumper guard. I

There has. thus been provided a simple and eilicient combined bumperguard and trailer hitch, and it is believed that from the foregoingdescription, the operation and construction of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art. It is also to be understood thatchanges in the minor details of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts may be resorted to, provided they fall within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

A device of the character described, comprising a block, adapted to bemounted on the bumper of an automobile, the rear of the block beingtapered to conform somewhat to the shape of the bumper, angular bracketsfixed at the top and bottom of said block, hook shaped brackets adaptedto engage the top and bottom edges of the bumper and hook shaped screwbolts connecting the angular brackets to the hook shaped bracketsvertical openings in the block adapted to receive pins of a hitch orbumper guard, notches in the lower ends of said pins, spring pressedlatches carried by said block for engaging the notches in the pins tolock them in the block, a groove in the lower face of said latch, apivoted lever in said block having the upper end thereof engageable inthe groove in the latch and adapted to retract and thus. release saidlatch to permit removal of the pins from said block.

HOMER C. TYSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,062,788 Jacob Dec. 1, 19362,342,907 Stall Feb. 29, 1944

